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Can you paddle the Rur during a dry spell?
As a rule, yes. The stretch we paddle runs between Heimbach and Zerkall, which means it lies below the Heimbach Reservoir. The water there doesn’t come straight from the rain, it’s released from the reservoir. That makes our stretch much less dependent on a dry summer than a free-flowing river.
Why online gauges often seem to show “no water”: If you look up the Rur water level, you’ll quickly land on readings from Monschau, Dedenborn or Linnich. These gauges are upstream of the dam or far downstream and tell you nothing about our stretch. On top of that, every gauge has its own zero point, so the centimeter values from different stations can’t be compared with each other at all. A single-digit reading doesn’t mean there are only a few centimeters of water there. More on this in our article Rur water level: which gauge counts (in German).
What we go by: What matters to us is the release from the reservoir and the green mark on the stone bridge (Bruchsteinbrücke), not some centimeter value from the internet. The decision also depends on the paddling quota, staffing and the weather. That’s why we make the call every day, by hand.
How to check the current status: Right at the top of every page on this website you’ll see a narrow strip whenever there’s something to tell you. If it says “Water level is good”, we’re paddling. If you want to be sure, just give us a quick call: 0157 5017 5756.
And if the Rur is off after all: The Heimbach Reservoir is still water and can be paddled all year round, so a dry spell makes practically no difference there. If we ever have to cancel a booked tour, you’ll get a new date, a voucher or your money back, just like with high water.